St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-06

who was wondering why lady of such
wealth and prominence should order
''lOw" articles of florist.
''She is going to give dinner party
this evening"" said the florist, land we
are to decorate the table with scarlet
artemisias, yellow primrOseS and ferns.
/ asked her if l should place them in an
epergne, and she said, No, no. That is
barbarous, past fashion. want
everything on the table low, so that my
guests can see each other across it.; that
is what she meant"
''Oh," said the reporter.
eyes," sighed the florist, 81 am'afraid
that the days of the silver epergne are
over. Every one now objects to them
for dinner, although they are often
used for collation. at a wedding or
other entertainment when the guests
stand about and eat instead of sitting
down. have pretty idea for decOrat-
ing Mrs. VS. table tonight.
''Tell you about it? Oh, certainly.
Well, it is square table, and there are
to be sixteen guests, besides the host
and hostess. who will each have two
guests on either side of them and four
on each of the two other sides. you u1.s
derStand. Rather a difficult arrange
ment. In the center of the table | shall
freight it with pale yellow primrOses,
all bOrdered with feather ferns, and on
either side of it there will be one of
these round yellow baskets, filled With
scarlet artemisias. Then the chandelier
overhead Will be twined with smilaX.
with little bell of the artemiSiaS almost
touching the primrOseS. For favors /
shall have scarlet carnations for the
ladies, tied with yellow ribbons in Gins
tiers, and placed just above the plate,
and bOutonniereS of two yellow carna-
tons for the men," And just as the
florist smiled with artistic satisfaction a
pretty girl in light mourning came rush
ing in.
of purple flOwers?' she exclaimed, all
yard in length purse. "YOu know we
give little dinner to six tonight, and
we forgot about the flowers until this
moment. We must have something in
purple, you know, as we are still in
mourning"
The florist took from his mammoth
ice-chest great tray of Russian violets
and heliOtrOpe and another tray filled
with pale, purple dahlias. The maiden
gaZed penSively at them for few mo-
ments, then throwing her brown eyes
pathetically at the little florist.
us that all you have? No purple Or
chidS, no panSieS""
"Yes; that is ALL"
She pOndered moment, chewing in
SpiratlOn from the end of her purse.
"Well, then, these must do. Fill me
that flat mat-baSket with the viOletS and
heliOtrOpe, with ferns in the center, and
send enough fern leaves to form a great
mat in the center of the table. on which
we will put the violets. Then tie me
up clusters of dahlias for the ladies, and
three violet bOutOnniereS for them |
declare | shall be glad when we go out
of mourning, I'm so tired of eating with
purple fiOWerSr' and after a few more
orders she left.
''YeS, it is quite true that we have
many customers who keep their tables
as well as their servants and horses and
dogs in mourning when any relative
dies. Why,a lady who lives right around
here on Fifth avenue, opposite CHECKER
ing hall, never had anything but white
roses and viOlets on the table till her
husband was dead two years. 1t would
look rather queer to me to see scarlet
or pink table and the hostess in black"
The mat-basket which the young lady
ordered is one of the newest things in
baskets. 1t is simply square piece of
braiding with the four ends rolled
slightly like a scroll. The flowers peep
out from the curled corners in very
captivating way, and when great bow
is placed on one corner the effect is
lust too sweet for anything"
Besides the low decoration which has
come into vogue, it is now the fashion
to have the tablecloth changed for des-
sert. The white damask is well crumb<
swept, then removed and a gorgeous
scarlet or yellow silk cloth, all fringed
and perfumed. is thrown on and the
fruits and nuts, the glittering glass and
wine look all the more luxurious. Some
hostesSeS who have no such cloth make
a wide band, a crimson, blue or yellow
plush, placed lengthwise on the table.
do duty as beautifier. Some of these
bands are edged with lace and richly
embroidered, and are as costly as an
altar cloth